Functional feed assessment on Litopenaeus vannamei using 100% fish meal replacement by soybean meal, high levels of complex carbohydrates and Bacillus probiotic strains

Functional feed supplemented with alternative-economic nutrient sources (protein, carbohydrates, lipids) and probiotics are being considered in shrimp/fish aquaculture production systems as an option to increase yield and profits and to reduce water pollution. In this study the probiotic potential to formulate functional feeds have been evaluated using four dietary treatments: Treatment 1 (B + Bs); Bacillus subtilis potential probiotic strain was supplemented to a soybeanmeal (SBM)-carbohydrates (CHO) basal feed. Treatment 2 (B + Bm); Bacillus megaterium potential probiotic strain was supplemented to the same SBM-CHO basal feed. In Treatment 3 (B); SBM-CHO basal feed was not supplemented with probiotic strains. Treatment 4 (C); fishmeal commercial feed (FM) was utilized as positive control. Feeding trials evaluated the survival, growth, and food conversion ratio and stress tolerance of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) Pacific white shrimp. Best overall shrimp performance was observed for animals fed with Treatment 1 (B+Bs); additionally, stress tolerance and hemolymph metabolites also showed the best performance in this treatment. SBM-CHO basal feed not supplemented with probiotic strains (B) presented smaller growth and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR). Shrimps fed with the fishmeal commercial feed (C) presented the lowest stress tolerance to high ammonia and low oxygen levels. Specifically selected B. subtilis strains are recommended to formulate functional and economical feeds containing high levels of vegetable; protein and carbohydrates as main dietary sources in L. vannamei cultures.     

Simulated yield advantages of extending post-flowering development at the expense of a shorter pre-flowering development in soybean

Field experiments with soybean demonstrated that the extension of photoperiod after flowering increases both the duration of the post-flowering phase and the production of seeds. These results suggest that cultivars with increased duration of the post-flowering phase could be selected to improve soybean yields. The aims of this paper were to: (a) evaluate the ability of the CROPGRO-soybean model to reproduce the experimental relationships between seed number and duration of the critical phase between first and last pod, and (b) assess the putative benefits and trade-offs of variable durations of the critical phase in a south–north transect in the Pampas of Argentina.     

A simple method to estimate harvest index in grain crops

Several methods have been proposed to simulate yield in crop simulation models. In this work, we present a simple method to estimate harvest index (HI) of grain crops based on fractional post-anthesis phase growth (f_G = fraction of biomass accumulation that occurred in the post-anthesis phase). We propose that HI increases in a linear or curvilinear fashion in response to f_G. The linear model has two parameters, the intercept (HI_o) and the slope (s). The curvilinear model was assumed to be monotonic: HI = HI_x − (HI_x − HI_o) · exp(−k·f_G); where HI_x is the asymptote, HI_o is the intercept and k is a constant modulating the rate of HI increase. The models were tested for barley (Pullman, WA and Uruguay), wheat (Pullman, WA) and sorghum (Australia). A positive relationship between HI and f_G was in general evident. For barley, the linear model appropriately represented the response of HI to f_G, with both HI_o and s in the vicinity of 0.3. For wheat HI_o and s were 0.34 and 0.21, respectively, but the curvilinear model yielded a slightly better fitting than the linear model. For sorghum, both linear and linear-plateau models fitted data reasonably well. It is shown that the models work well in crops source-limited or source-sink co-limited during grain filling, but in sink-limited conditions the magnitude of the limitation needs to be characterized to compute HI. A major advantage of this method is that the parameters of the linear or curvilinear model are readily calibrated from yield data and biomass measurements at anthesis and harvest.     

Seaweed polysaccharides and derived oligosaccharides stimulate defense responses and protection against pathogens in plants

Plants interact with the environment by sensing "non-self" molecules called elicitors derived from pathogens or other sources. These molecules bind to specific receptors located in the plasma membrane and trigger defense responses leading to protection against pathogens. In particular, it has been shown that cell wall and storage polysaccharides from green, brown and red seaweeds (marine macroalgae) corresponding to ulvans, alginates, fucans, laminarin and carrageenans can trigger defense responses in plants enhancing protection against pathogens. In addition, oligosaccharides obtained by depolymerization of seaweed polysaccharides also induce protection against viral, fungal and bacterial infections in plants. In particular, most seaweed polysaccharides and derived oligosaccharides trigger an initial oxidative burst at local level and the activation of salicylic (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and/or ethylene signaling pathways at systemic level. The activation of these signaling pathways leads to an increased expression of genes encoding: (i) Pathogenesis-Related (PR) proteins with antifungal and antibacterial activities; (ii) defense enzymes such as pheylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and lipoxygenase (LOX) which determine accumulation of phenylpropanoid compounds (PPCs) and oxylipins with antiviral, antifugal and antibacterial activities and iii) enzymes involved in synthesis of terpenes, terpenoids and/or alkaloids having antimicrobial activities. Thus, seaweed polysaccharides and their derived oligosaccharides induced the accumulation of proteins and compounds with antimicrobial activities that determine, at least in part, the enhanced protection against pathogens in plants.     

Preliminary study of the factors that determine nutrient composition of bean-cooking broth

Bean cooking broth or liquor is a food preparation that results from cooking beans under a number of circumstances. This preparation is the first bean-derived food provided by mothers to their children as young as two months of age. Because of this, bean cooking plays an important nutritional role that must be evaluated. The present study attempted to evaluate, through a number of experiments, the significance of cultivars, method of cooking — either under atmospheric or vapor pressure — cooking time, salt addition, soaking and grain size on bean broth content. This was established mainly by solid content, and also by protein, ash and tannin content in different experiments.The results indicated that cultivars, but mainly cooking and soaking time, cooking method, and seed size were all important factors in determining brean-broth composition, mainly of total solids. Protein and ash contents were less affected. Prolonged cooking of the bean-broth resulted in a decrease in polyphenolic content. The relative nutritional importance of the above factors should be studied further.INCAP Publication I-1511.     

Parasitoids of the grapeleaf skeletonizer, Harrisina brillians Barnes and McDunnough (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) in northwestern Mexico

Nine species of parasitoids were collected from pupae of the grapeleaf skeletonizer, Harrisina brillians Barnes and McDunnough (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) in Caborca, Sonora in northwestern Mexico. The parasitoids detected and the percentage parasitization observed were: Ametadoria misella (Wulp), (Diptera: Tachinidae) 29.3%; Hockeria rubra (Ash.), and a species from the genus Euchalcidia (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), plus five suspected species, all from the family Eulophidae, and a species from the genus Arachnophaga (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), 21.6%. Mortality due to unknown causes was 13.7%. In all, 64.6% parasitization and mortality was observed. The most abundant parasitoids were the five unidentified suspected species of Eulophidae, which corresponded to 46% of the total collected; the species from the genus Euchalcidia made up 31% of the total; the tachinid fly, Ametadoria misella comprised 15%; Hockeria rubra comprised 8%, and the species from the genus Arachnophaga comprised < 1%.     

Influence of potato composition on chip color quality

Potato constituents were monitored to evaluate their contribution to potato chip color. Five chipping potato varieties: Snowden, AC Ptarmigan, FL 1625, FL 1815 and ND2471-8 were evaluated. Ascorbic acid, sugars, phenolic acids, and amino acids were determined and quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the color of potato chips was measured by both CIELab Hunter-ColorQuest and Agtron instruments. Composition and chip color varied among the different varieties. AC Ptarmigan and ND2471-8 produced the darkest chip color (on average L*= 49.0, chroma=19.5, and hue angle= 62.9) compared with FL 1815 (L*= 58.4, chroma= 28.3 and hue angle= 75.7). Reducing sugar concentration did not completely explain or predict color quality when it was present in low concentrations (ca. < 60 mg/100g). Other reactants present in the potato slices played an important role in the final color quality of potato chips. Multiple correlation analysis showed negative association of ascorbic acid (r= -0.7), fructose (r= -0.7), a chlorogenic acid isomer (r= -0.7), glucose (r= -0.7) and glutamine (r= -0.5) with potato chip color. Sucrose, chlorogenic acid and asparagine were poor estimators of chip color quality.